Saturday, 31 March 2012

Fans of both Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn should really take a look at Suzanne Enoch’s books. As a fan of both Kleypas and Quinn, it’s hard to find another author that grabs my attention as they do. However, upon picking up TAMING AN IMPOSIBLE ROGUE, I knew right away that Enoch would become an author I would be interested in reading more of.

The opening paragraph alone captured my attention and it was then that I realized that I was missing out big time.

“Keating Blackwood came away with the sharpness of gunfire. Someone was in the room with him. Someone he hadn’t invited. Keeping his eyes closed, he stirred enough that he could slip his hand under the pillow and curl his fingers around the hilt of the knife resting there.”

Immediately, Keating became a character I was instantly attracted to. He is called “Bloody Blackwood” because of his past actions. Six years ago, an event transpired that caused him to leave the ton, causing rumors to spread about his inappropriate actions and ruining any noble reputation he had before.

Similarly, the heroine of this book, Camille Pryce has also been shunned by society when she ran away from her own wedding to a man named Stephen Pollard, the Marquis of Fenton. Fenton is actually Blackwood’s cousin and he is outraged when Camille leaves him hanging, thus making him the laughing stock of society because it seems that Camille would rather work at a gentleman’s club called the Tantalus Club than be married to him.

In a desperate effort to stop the whispers and laughter behind his back, Fenton proposes a deal to Blackwood. For an outrageous amount of money, he asks Blackwood to convince Camille to marry him. This offer is very tempting to Blackwood because he has a secret that follows him day and night. So, he takes it. But when he finally meets Camille Pryce, he soon realizes that there is more to the woman than just the fact that she is a runaway bride...

I have to say how much I enjoyed this story. There was never a dull moment and Enoch does a fantastic job with the pacing and chapter endings. I kept allowing myself to read one more chapter because I was so enthralled by it.

Another thing I loved about this book is the fact that the character’s personalities really shine through. Quinn and Kleypas are known for their witty dialogues, but I think Enoch should be added to that list as well. I loved the interactions between Keating and Camille. They were sweet, funny, and sometimes wickedly sinful.

Keating for me was the major reason why I loved this book. Right from the start, he was an honorable man. Though he may have reasons to be mysterious, he was always upfront with Camille. He tells her his intentions and the reason why he wants to be her friend and I think this made him more likeable as a character. Though Camille and Keating start off as friends, it is obvious that they each wish to be something more.

I am very excited about the next book in the series, RULES TO CATCH A DEVILISH DUKE because I loved Adam’s part in this story and Sophia White seems like a very fun woman. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book!

I’m so pleased to have found a new author I can turn to for historical romance. Though this may be my first Enoch read, I can assure you it will certainly not be my last!

Cynthia Eden’s fascinating world of fallen angels is downright addictive. I was intrigued with the characters and enthralled with the story.

In this world of Angels, Demons, Wolves and humans, no one is immune to any emotions. However, Angels specifically are impervious to any feelings. They live to serve and execute duties as told. They took lives, as would a grim reaper, to bring death and take souls.

Unfortunately, a few will sway from the norm and will fall. Keenan is one of them, a fallen angel. Unable to help himself he had judged and decided to take the wrong soul. His last charge was destined to die by the hands of a vampire who intended to rape, drink and kill her. Because of his transgression, he had set a series of events that was never meant to be. And his punishment is to live on earth without his wings.

Nicole St. James is a schoolteacher who did everything by the rules. But sh*t always happens and well, the last incident just changed her life. She became a creature she never thought existed. To survive, she had to abandon the rules she was used to, sinned and continue to live the best she can.

It is obvious why this fallen angel disobeyed his one sacred duty. Keenan didn’t know it but it was apparent that it was because of his lust and love for Nicole. This book reminded me of the movie City of Angels with Meg Ryan and Nicolas Cage, a story of an angel’s forbidden love for a human being. However, Ms. Eden’s fallen angel is nowhere close to Nicolas Cage but more like Chris Hemsworth. Keenan looked like "..the best sin.." I've ever imagined. As I thought of Chris as Keenan, I fell deeply in love him. It wasn’t just his looks but because he was pure and innocent of his feelings. It was romantic, how he would seek her out and how much he is willing to give up for her.

Trust is a big thing for Nicole but because they were in a midst of fighting for their lives, she was left with little choice but to grant it. Don’t get me wrong, Keenan rose to the occasion of earning that trust and it brought out the alpha in him. Although, Keenan is a virgin, their love making was intense and not one to miss. This virgin angel is all kinds of yummy!

The sub plot about the wars between the factions are interesting. You can feel all the bad blood between the Angels, promising a lot if drama and excitement.. Azrael and Sammael are two Angels to watch out for. Second installment to this series is to release mid this year and I cannot wait to meet more of the angels.

Clash of the Highlanders: VOTE NOW! (for Ian of course)
Our girl Suzanne and Laurie from Demonlover's got into a little showdown we like to call Clash of the Highlanders. In honor of Jennifer Ashley's latest release, THE DUKE'S PERFECT WIFE, Laurie and Suz battled it out to answer the question: Who is the hottest highlander???

Check out Suz's post on Ian here and see Laurie's post on Hart here. You decide who the ultimate Highlander is!

Reading on the Darkside: Black Dagger Brotherhood
Of course, we wouldn't leave you without a BDB fantasy cast! We will post this feature on 4/3 at the end of our BDB event

Hottie of the Week: Jason Aaron Baca
We did a special little interview with cover model, Jason Aaron Baca. You can check that out here.

Marissa is known as the beauty of the entire vampire race. Her signature dress is the yellow gown that makes a hardened man like Butch pant like a puppy. As a member of the glymera, she has the means to dress in lavish gowns and jewelry, but what Marissa covets most of all is the love of her hellren and Safe House.

Now sporting a new look, Marissa spends her days at Safe House in a polished suit that screams authority and grace. Frumpy is not a word Marissa knows. No one is as elegant or classy as Marissa.

The UTC fashion police gives Marissa a grade of A for rocking the floor length gowns and heels without tripping over the hems.

Bella has got the most rockin’ body so to show off those sexy curves, she dresses herself in form-fitting skirts and jeans. She is often seen dripping in diamonds. Her hellren knows how to treat her right. And to top off her outfit, Bella loves to wear her signature manolo blahniks.

The UTC fashion police give Bella and grade of B+ for her great taste in shoes!

Friday, 30 March 2012

Welcome to CLASH OF THE HIGHLANDERS. As you may have learned, we love highlanders here at UTC (Who doesn't?) So in celebration of Jennifer Ashley's latest release, THE DUKE'S PERFECT WIFE, we are hosting a little showdown between UTC and Demonlover's. You see, Laura from Demonlover's thinks Hart, the hero of Ashley's latest is the hottest of all the highlanders. No, no. That's not possible because Under the Covers firmly believes Ian, the hero of THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE is the hottest.

So in order to settle this um....misunderstanding, we are taking it to you guys, the readers. YOU DECIDE who is hotter.

But first, Suz is going to try to entice you and list all the things that make Ian yummy.

Here's what our girl had to say. Take it away, Suz!

The Madness I have for Lord Ian Mackenzie

It was love at first sight for me. I saw Lord Ian across that page meticulously studying a Ming bowl and was instantly in love. I mean, if he can put that much concentration in to a bowl, then it leads me to believe he may be just as intense in...other places, why must I always be right? Unluckily for me, Beth managed to snag his attention first *sigh* I think I made the right decision in letting her have him.

Clearly Ian is the best of the Mackenzies. He is, after all, the series opener, the one shown to us finnicky readers to entice us in and keep us reading. And it isn't just that he looks the best in a kilt, leaving a trail of drooling readers behind him hoping to have a quick peek to see exactly what sexy Scots wear under there. For me what makes Lord Ian such an unforgettable character and the best Mackenzie is his contradictions. He is both extremely vulnerable, not understanding all of what is said, done and felt around him even though he hears and sees all of it, and completely impervious, pretty much doing what he likes when he likes. He believes himself incapable of loving yet he feels all his emotions so very intensely, he not only loves Beth, he is consumed with it. Then of course, he is completely hot, no contradiction there he is just flat out gorgeous.

How can it possibly be better than that?

Laurie from Demonlover's says:

Hart is finally able to express love to Eleanor in ways he never dreamed of. This man, who vowed to never become like his father, in fact had become like him! He was driven to succeed in Parliament and plotted out his whole life! Having El back in his life made him see that he didn’t have to become Prime Minister to be worthy of his title, of El’s love, or of everyone else’s respect.

and I’ll make it a tie on the boys in the kilts ;P

The year is 1881. Meet the Mackenzie family--rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. A lady couldn't be seen with them without ruin. Rumors surround them--of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz. The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He's also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women. Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama--an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband. And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.

Jennifer Ashley is graciously giving away a SIGNED copy of THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE to one lucky maiden.

To enter, please:
1. Be a follower
2. Fill on the form below
3. Tell us in the comments who you think is hotter! HART OR IAN (It better be Ian!)

DON'T FORGET to visit Demonlover's for a chance to win THE DUKE'S PERFECT WIFE.
&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Suz: Definietly sexy highland god with a nice wide dom streak, I loved that about Hart. I don't think he would be the same if he wasn't quite as manipulative and interfering as he was. You know that it all comes from a place of love, he just wants to protect his family and those he loves and he thinks he is the best man for the job!

Annie: It’s quite obvious what my answer would be to this one. Hart is a Highland god through and through. His dominant tendencies in and out of the bed make him so irresistible! How can you deny a man who knows exactly what he wants and how he wants it? Not only do we see Hart’s dominance and arrogance in this book, but we also see the vulnerable and parental side to him as well. Ashley does a great job of displaying different sides to Hart’s character.

What did you think of Eleanor Ramsey?

Suz: I really like El, I loved her habit of talking on and on and despite having a fairly hard life struggling through poverty, she never whines, she just gets on with it cheerfully. And what I really really loved about her was that she never backed down from Hart and that she was never afraid of him, as deep down she knows she can always trust him. She was a great heroine

Annie: El is my newest favourite historical romance heroine. I loved her spunk and attitude and the way she keeps Hart on his toes. Despite the fact that her family is in an uncomfortable position, she doesn’t allow the burdens of life to dampen her spirits. She’s a fun, flirty gal who knows how to handle a man like Hart Mackenzie and I have to admire that talent. Not many can match someone so bold as a Mackenzie highlander.

Hart and El, were they a match made in heaven?

Suz: I am not normally a fan of rekindled romance, but I do think that El and Hart were a great couple. Hart needed El, she stopped him from becoming a shell, who only have his political ambitions for succor. I did think this book would be hotter then it was. There is some steamy scenes, but I think Cam and Ian's books were far more erotic.

Annie: Absolutely! There’s no question. The chemistry is potent from page one and undeniable throughout the rest of the book. El matches Hart in the way they are both determined to see through certain events until their expected results happen. While I thought the sex scenes would be more steamy and involve ..err...something extra, the love scenes between Hart and El were still fantastic.

The MacKenzie clan has grown from four solitary brothers to a horde of mini Highlanders and their wives, what do you think of the familial relationships and their inclusion in the book and their affect on Hart?

Suz: I think one of the best things about the Highland Pleasures series is the relationship that the four brothers have with eachother. The brotherly bonds are especially strong as they all lived through an abusive childhood, terroized by their father. Hart being the eldest has always protected his brothers, first from their father then from themselves and it has been the keypoint in his life. What was great about this book was it showed the tight connection that Hart and Ian (my two favourite Mackenzies!) had. Hart would do anything for Ian and is almost more like a father then a brother.
Annie: Actually, one of the biggest reasons why I follow this series is because of the big familial relationships throughout the series. Ian plays a big part of this book and I loved reading about him again. In this book, we see more of Hart’s experiences with his abusive father and the possible fallouts of their actions if Hart didn’t do what he did. I LOVE the fact that Ashley incorporates a different kind of love in her romances. Romantic love is important, but a family is what makes a character's life full.

Any general thoughts on the book, and will you be looking forward to the next one The Seduction of Elliot McBride?

Suz: I loved this book! I have been looking forward to Hart's book since the The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie and I wasn't disappointed it was a heartwrenching and emotional book and I can't wait to see what What Ms Ashley has in store for us next.

Annie: YES! After devouring this book, it actually makes me want to go back and read the rest of the series to relive my favourite moments until the next book comes out. I’m actually regretting the fact that I read so quickly.

Any Favourite Quotes?

"We're Mackenzies," Mac said, his gaze steady. "Remember that we break what we touch."

That was what Hart Mackenzie always wanted, she realized. For others to surrender to him, to let him be their master. Not because he wanted to punish them, or to have his own way, but for their own good, beacuse he wanted to take care of them. Those who didn't understand that dashed themselves to bits on him.

“You were supposed to burn this,” Hart said. He couldn’t get up, could not move, drained from what he’d just read.
Eleanor closed the door and came to the table littered with letters. “I couldn’t, somehow.”
He noticed that she did not need to ask which letter he meant. “Why not?”
“I don’t know, really. I supposed, because, of all the people you could have told, you chose to tell me.”
“There was no other person,” Hart said. “No one in the world.”

Thursday, 29 March 2012

Mary may be my favorite shellan, but we don't share the same fashion sense. Her sweet personality translates into the clothes she wears. Plain polo shirts and khakis are her uniform. It averts wandering eyes because she doesn't like the attention and prefers feeling comfortable to feeling fierce. But despite her lack of interest in fashion, Mary still has the ability to snatch the interest of the most beautiful warrior of the Brotherhood. And for her, that's more than enough to keep her feeling sexy.

The UTC fashion police gives Mary a grade of B for not changing a thing about herself.

Beth has the coveted spot beside the Blind King which makes her the most important shellan of the vampire race. With that position comes a hot as hell hellren and...a lot of money to spend on clothes.The queen likes to keep things simple. Sky-high heels with booty-hugging jeans and a black form-fitting turtleneck shows off all her curves and makes her presence known.

Let's not forget her mating gown - the black and red dress that makes every woman feel like the most important girl in the world. But a queen is only a queen if she has her king by her side. And without Wrath hanging off her arm as seriously smoking eye-candy, Beth's fashion wouldn't be as coveted by all.

ARTISTIC PURSUITS is a tough one to review because I cannot say that it really made an impact on me. I enjoyed Frank and Leslie’s story, but just didn’t feel completely invested in their relationship. I felt that their emotional development moved too fast for me, not really giving me the time to really catch up or feel it. I also didn’t feel that Leslie’s accent was authentic. There are many repetitions of the same words, so that kind of took away from his character I think.

Frank Jennings is an FBI agent while Leslie Carlton is an Interpol agent. Already sounds like a good read, right? One of the things I liked about this book is their pursuit for something that requires both their attentions. Their pursuit pushes the book forward, giving it that suspenseful kick that I love to read in any romance.

I’m hoping to read more of Andrew Grey’s work considering that the sex scenes were pretty smoking. I just hope next time the accents aren’t so distracting.

It’s official. Marie Sexton writes some of the best m/m romances out there. She evokes emotion in every word, making me yearn right alongside her characters as they wish for the impossible.

Jonathan Ketcher is a man who takes his business seriously. He travels often and doesn’t have much time for anything else. However, when he agrees to a blind date with Cole Fenton he soon realizes that there is much more to life than just climbing the company ladder.

At first, their date veers completely off the road. Jon’s phone can’t stop ringing throughout dinner and when he keeps attending to his business matters instead of the man sitting across from him, Cole gets fed up and leaves. Later, Jon apologizes and using his charm that gets him exactly what he wants. He gets Cole to see him again.

Jon and Cole’s relationship is a slow-building one. There are times when their relationship backtracks because of choices one of them makes or they shut one another out, but that is part of their complex relationship. I know some may get frustrated by this because they seem to go back and forth quite a bit, but what I loved about this story is that Jon and Cole work for their relationship. It isn’t simple for them to just give up their previous habits for another person. Jon isn’t just going to drop his work to stay with Cole after all he has worked for and Cole isn’t going to give up his wandering lifestyle because Jon wants him to. Both have to work with who they are as a person and see if the other is worth making adjustments for.

I was really impressed by Sexton’s ability to involve the previous characters into the storyline. All my favorite boys are mention sporadically throughout this book and I think the emails between Cole and Jared. It gave readers a glimpse into Cole’s mind, which made me love him even more.

For readers who enjoy an emotional, well-written story of m/m romance, I urge you to check out the Coda series by Sexton. In my opinion, no one does it better.

﻿Alex Verus owns a magic shop, not the kind that sells trick decks of cards or top hats with bunnies attached, but magic items that actually work. He is also a diviner, able to see future choices and the consequences of them before they happen, something very useful in a fight. But Alex avoids the rest of the mage community, both Dark and Light after learning the hard way that Dark mages are truely ruthless and Light mages are more interested in internal politics then helping a young boy. But soon the mage world, both Dark and Light come knocking on his door for help, both sides threatening him and his short list of friends if he says no and for once Alex can't seem to find a path that doesn't lead to his eventual death...

I am angry at this book! I am not sure my book shelves can take anymore, I now have yet another great series that I am going to have to add to my read list. As you can tell I really enjoyed this book, it has everything I love about an Urban Fantasy. Action, magic, an interesting new world and a character that I really liked.

It is very rare I actually read a book where the lead character is male, so I wasn't sure whether I would like it, but I have found that although it is different, it is something that I have enjoyed about this book. Alex Verus is an underdog, as a Brit I love an underdog, his magic isn't as powerful as everyone elses and he doesn't have the same connections as everyone else, but what he is, is very resourceful and clever and with a mixture of cunning, divination and guts he always manages to come out on top

Although the world wasn't the most original, mages living amoungst us, it was still interesting enough that I wanted to find out more and the plot in this book was a great way of introducing us to the world of Alex Verus as we get to see the major players on both sides of the mage world.

This was a really good read, full of action and magic and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

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